Electric Shock

[Jimmy Cheam]

I have a Thing 181 1976 model, When ever I press the horn I got Electiric Shock. If you leave your hand on any part of the Thing Metal body, and when you press the horn you will get Electric shock.
What is the cause of this probelm,

[Ian Epperson]

That's fascinating. You really won't feel 12 volts unless you do something spectacular - simply touching the car body isn't good enough. So, there must be something wrong with the horn itself. Somehow it's stepping up voltage. I'd disconnect the horn at the front of the car and see if you still get a shock. I'd guess that you won't. If so, replace the horn. If you still get a shock, it's something else wierd.

[Jimmy Cheam]

I disconnect my Horn and I still get the Electric shock, but I can hear the relay clicking. I try to add an extra wire from the Battery to the body, no effect.

quote="Ian Epperson"]That's fascinating. You really won't feel 12 volts unless you do something spectacular - simply touching the car body isn't good enough. So, there must be something wrong with the horn itself. Somehow it's stepping up voltage. I'd disconnect the horn at the front of the car and see if you still get a shock. I'd guess that you won't. If so, replace the horn. If you still get a shock, it's something else wierd.[/quote]

[74 Cosa]

Is the vehicle engine running when you get the "electrical shock"? Because I agree, 12 vDC should not shock you. Now a bad ignition coil or bad (leaky) spark plug wires could allow high voltage to be passed along or induced into other electrical conductors throughout the vehicle. Leakage current.

[Jimmy Cheam]

[krewe01]

If im not mistaken the horn set up does not have a relay so it was probally added by previous owner. I would check all connection on or around the relay. i think having a relay is a good idea as long as its hooked up properly. As far as the shock that just boggles me. I know if i touch the positive term of my battery and have my forearm resting on bare metal of the car it would kinda burn a bit but not shock me. The only similar problem I ever had like this was when my headlight switch sparked. (but did not shock me) It turned out to be a bad headlight switch

Keep us posted

[bucko]

I'd stop pressing that horn button!
_________________
Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[Jimmy Cheam]

[lewis71bug]

My 73 has a relay as well, but the wiring diagram at http://www.vintagebus.com/wiring/thing.gif doesn't show one. The relay on mine is right up under the front 'grill' area on the driver side, next to the driver side fender. According to the wiring diagram, the horn should be hot all the time and the horn button provides the ground through the steering column. I haven't checked this, but I believe the relay is activated by the horn button, and provides the ground to the horn when activated. Here's a good writeup that describes the operation of the horn specifically to ACVWs http://www.thebugshop.org/bsfqhorn.htm. Is your horn button metal/something that will conduct electricity, or are you touching another part of the steering wheel/column when it shocks you?

[Jimmy Cheam]

[Ferretkona]

I have to try this sometime, I have never used my horn.

[Ian Epperson]

Here's another guess - did someone rig up neon tubes in the car? You mention the the "horn button is half moon metal" - did it used to have a light or something? Neon uses a step-up transformer and you could get a shock if one of the leads was grounding into the system somehow.

It's a long shot, but you've posted a hard problem!

We might get another hint if you used a voltmeter to tell what voltage is between the shifter and horn button.

[Jimmy Cheam]

[Thingggg]

That former owner sure got tired of his kids making noise with the Thing.

[Ian Epperson]

You know, there've been times that I wished a driver in the other car would get a burning sensation when they touched the horn.

[Banzai KG]

Speaking of "shock", I figured you might enjoy reading this:
This is from John Henry's "Horn Wiring Hell" tech article...
Interesting Side Note:
During the week I was writing this article, Travis Hall, a '63 Beetle owner, posted this message over at the aircooled newsgroup. He has a bare metal (chromed) chain-link steering wheel on his '63: